How to Move a "Giant": 7 Lessons Learned for Making a Change in a Large Organization

Bringing about change in a large organization can be a herculean task, similar to tales of old with the hero overcoming the slow and powerful giant. In this article, we discuss some of the lessons learned from our own journey: 1) Don't present your ideas in a whisper because you are afraid of feedback; share your project with a megaphone, because feedback can only result in a better product; 2) Be enthusiastic; every discussion about your practice is an opportunity to engage others; 3) Focus on those who are willing to participate in your vision; don't spend too much time and energy on naysayers; 4) Use the language of your audience. You do not need to become an expert in every subject matter, but you must be able to verbalize your project in a way that matches their terminology and priorities; 5) Streamline your facts and present enough information to remove the frightening unknown, but not so much that the details distract from the purpose; 6) Share your results, successes, and struggles; your authentic efforts will affect your audience far more than promises or predictions; and 7) Couple the fires of passion with the cold determination of commitment; the combination will help you persevere and achieve success.